Vinícius Júnior invites Sudanese boy Zaher, who lost both legs in a drone strike, to a Real Madrid match
Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior has sent a personal video message to Zaher, a 13-year-old Sudanese boy who lost both legs in a 2024 drone strike in Khartoum, and invited him to attend a Madrid match and spend the day together. Zaher watched the message in Cairo, where a £45,000 public appeal paid for surgery and the prosthetic legs he now walks and kicks a ball on. He hopes to get a visa so he can accept the invitation.
Verified
In a personal video message watched by Zaher in Cairo, Vinícius Júnior greeted him in Arabic and said: "I was made aware of your story. I know how difficult the last few months must have been for you." He told the boy: "You are a hard-working black man. I really hope you will make good use of your new prosthetic legs, that you return to playing football and that you find happiness. You deserve it." He then invited him: "I would like to invite you to attend a Madrid match. We can spend the day together." Zaher, overwhelmed, left the room and came back wearing a Vinícius shirt, saying: "Tell Vinícius, I love him."
Key points
- Vinícius Júnior's recorded message tells Zaher to make good use of his new legs, return to football and find happiness — "You deserve it."
- The invitation: attend a Madrid match and spend the day together. Zaher hopes to get a visa to accept.
- A £45,000 appeal paid for the Cairo treatment behind his recovery; he now walks and kicks a ball on prosthetic legs.
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- UNICEF counts more than 17 million Sudanese children in need of aid, and at least 4,300 verified killed or maimed.
What happened
The BBC first told Zaher's story in 2025, when he was wheeling himself through the ruins of Khartoum and could only play the game he loves on his knees. Strangers around the world funded his treatment; the broadcaster passed his admiration for Vinícius to the player, who asked to record a message. Mother and son have now returned home to Khartoum, where he hopes to have his prosthetic legs adjusted as he grows.
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Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedIn a personal video message watched by Zaher in Cairo, Vinícius Júnior greeted him in Arabic and said: "I was made aware of your story. I know how difficult the last few months must have been for you." He told the boy: "You are a hard-working black man. I really hope you will make good use of your new prosthetic legs, that you return to playing football and that you find happiness. You deserve it." He then invited him: "I would like to invite you to attend a Madrid match. We can spend the day together." Zaher, overwhelmed, left the room and came back wearing a Vinícius shirt, saying: "Tell Vinícius, I love him."BBC — Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr sends surprise message to boy who lost his legs in Sudan's war (11 Nov 2026; read in full via browser recovery)
- ✓ VerifiedZaher lost both legs in a drone strike in Khartoum in 2024, while he and his mother Habibah were selling lentils on the street to survive. The BBC first met him in 2025, moving through the ruins in a wheelchair and playing football on his knees, and he said Vinícius was his favourite footballer. An online appeal helped by UK-based Sudanese lawyer Dena Latif raised £45,000 (about $60,000); Zaher travelled to Cairo for further surgery, months of physiotherapy and psychological support, and now walks on two prosthetic legs and can kick a ball. He and his mother have since returned to Khartoum.BBC — Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr sends surprise message to boy who lost his legs in Sudan's war (11 Nov 2026; read in full via browser recovery)
- ✓ VerifiedMore than 17 million children in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UNICEF, which says it has verified at least 4,300 children killed or maimed in the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces — while believing the true figure is far higher.BBC — Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr sends surprise message to boy who lost his legs in Sudan's war (11 Nov 2026; read in full via browser recovery)
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- That the message and the invitation were given in Vinícius's own recorded words, and that Zaher has seen them.
- That Zaher now walks on prosthetic legs funded by the £45,000 appeal, and has returned to Khartoum.
What we don't know yet
- Whether Zaher will get a visa and be able to take up the invitation, and for which match — no date has been set.